Many brides tell us
that they
don't know where to begin when planning the ceremony that is the
centerpiece
to their most important day. This free Guide will get you in the know!
Print this page & use it - it will help you make better decisions
regarding
your wedding with less anxiety!

Baroque composers wrote a great deal
of ceremonial
music, either as royal court musicians, or as church musicians. The
nobility
required their court composers to write new music for weddings,
coronations,
funerals, and other special occasions. Both Protestant and Catholic
worship
services of this era were filled with new music written by some of the
greatest composers the world has ever known!

The Prelude: Before the
ceremony
begins, the musicians play approximately thirty minutes of Prelude
music. These selections, ranging from joyful to serene, are performed
during
the seating of the guests and set the mood for the ceremony to follow.
Though optional, some brides choose a special piece for the seating of
the mothers to end the Prelude.

Prelude Selections:

Air on the G String - Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
This “Air” comes from Bach’s Orchestral Suite #3 in D major. Its
popular
title “Air on the G String” is from an arrangement for violin and piano
by the great German violinist August Wilhelmj who played most of the
melody
notes on the “G” string of the violin.

Air (from Water Music) - George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Handel wrote three suites collectively known as Water Music, which
were first performed for King George I of England and his guests as
they
floated down the Thames River on the royal barge.

Trumpet Tune - Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
The trumpet tunes and voluntaries were written not for the brass
instrument,
the trumpet, but for the "trumpet” set of pipes on the organ. These
brassy
reed pipes were used for joyful, rhythmic tunes. Purcell, considered to
be one of the greatest of all English composers, was himself an
organist
at Westminster Abbey in London.

Rondeau - Jean-Joseph Mouret (1682-1738)
Mouret was a leading composer for the French court and directed the
Paris Opera orchestra. Originally part of his “Suites de Symphonies,
Premiere
Suite, Fanfares,” this piece is best known today as the theme for the
TV
series “Masterpiece Theatre” on PBS.

The Processional:
The Processional accompanies the entrance of the bridal party. Two
different pieces are usually chosen, one for the attendants and one for
the bride. Both tunes are typically stately and majestic.

Processional Selections:

Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring - Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Bach is the supreme composer of the Baroque period, as well as being
a consummate organist and church musician. This lyrical melody, written
originally for his church Cantata No. 147, is a favorite at weddings.

Canon in D - Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706)
As organist and composer, Pachelbel was one of the leading progressive
German composers of his time. Pachelbel’s most famous work
consists
of a lovely repeating bass line which serves as the foundation for
variations
above written for strings. (The Miller-Rowe Consort often add their own
distinctive variations, improvised on the spot in live performances).

The Prince of Denmark’s March (Trumpet Voluntary) - Jeremiah Clarke
(1674-1707)
A voluntary is an instrumental piece usually for organ, written for
use during the entrance or exit of the congregation, or as an offertory
during a church service. Originally titled “The Prince of Denmark’s
March,”
this harpsichord piece was popularized in an arrangement for trumpet,
organ,
and percussion by Sir Henry Wood, who renamed it “Trumpet
Voluntary”
and ascribed it to Purcell. This tune was used for the processional in
the 1981 royal wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. Like
Purcell,
Clarke was an English organist and composer.

Bridal Chorus - Richard Wagner - (1813-1897)
Wagner included this piece for choir and orchestra in his opera,
Lohengrin.
In today’s weddings, it is used only as an instrumental processional
for
the bride.

The Recessional:
Following the the benediction and introduction of the newly married
couple, the Recessional signals the
exit of the bride and groom followed by the wedding party. Here the
music mirrors the festive mood which concludes the ceremony.

Recessional Selections:

Hornpipe (from Water Music) - George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
(See description above under Air). This exuberant piece is frequently
used as a recessional.

Wedding March - Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
This wedding march, used primarily as a recessional, comes from
Mendelssohn’s
symphonic piece,” A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” based on Shakespeare’s
play.

Ode to Joy - Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Beethoven’s famous theme from his Choral Symphony, the Ninth, is used
in many modern hymnals with the hymn text Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee
penned by Henry van Dyke (1852-1933).

Psalm 19 - Benedetto Marcello (1686-1739)
The text of Psalm 19, “The Heavens Declare,” is a song of praise to
the Lord, extolling the glories of God’s creation. With its festive
rhythms
and energetic tune, this piece fits well as a recessional. Marcello was
an important Venetian composer.